Blue Springs Police dispatchers say the cow was spotted in the area of NW Mock Avenue and Missouri Highway 7 Sunday afternoon approaching Interstate 70 from the south.

NBC Action News viewer Steve Jorgensen sent in a photo of the cow in the parking lot at the Sonic restaurant at 515 NE Coronado Drive. An employee at the Sonic said the cow came right into the parking lot before walking to the Planet Sub parking lot.

Police feared the cow would eventually make its way on the interstate and put it down. Police then took the cow back to the Winter Meat Processing Plant at 110 NW 12th St., about a mile-and-a-half away from the restaurants.

A manager at the meat processing plant said the cow had been returned and was being “processed.”